PLAY YOUR PART IN PREVENTING CRIME

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33091, 5 December 1972, Page 24

PLAY YOUR PART IN PREVENTING CRIME

(By

DETECTIVE SERGEANT

B. ]. PRESTON.

Christchurch crime prevention officer)

Will you be a Police Department statistic for 1973? There i§ a 1-30 chance you will be. For the year ending December 31, 1972, the Christchurch Criminal Investigation Branch win have handled over 10,000 complaints of all types. Thefts totalled 2825, unlawful taking of vehicles 764, burglaries of houses and buildings 2289, false pretences 464, rapes 33. These figures are for the last 11 months. Why is it that a citizen will leave a satchel containing the shop takings in the front or rear seat of his car in a hotel car park when in a few seconds he could have placed it in the locked boot? The old adage “out of sight out of mind” must apply. Take away the temptation and the on-the-spur-of-the-moment theft,

which in 99 per cent of cases is what happens, and we would cut our crime rate drastically. What cannot be seen is usually not stolen. Why is it that in one week-end in Christchurch 12 vehicles were stolen, where in seven cases the keys were left in the ignition? Is it any wonder a teen-ager is tempted to get behind the wheel of a nice car and go for a joy-ride. Another on-the-spur-of-the< moment offence, simply because of the ready-made opportunity presented to the individual by the apathy of the public towards crime prevention. DAYLIGHT Why is it that a large number of daylight housebreaks have been committed this year? The offenders) have got to get on to the property, break in or in a lot of cases walk in, and then get the property away. Surely someone in the street must see something suspicious? The Police Department appeals to the public to telephone whenever they see anything they think suspicious. We will check it out. We don’t mind how many calls we receive that turn out to be nothing. The next one could be the real thing. While cutting the lawns, doing the garden, painting the house, looking out the window, if you see something which you know instinctively is not right, telephone. What does the normal housebreaker look like? He or she is just like you and me, often well dressed and looking like a salesman. We rely on your information and observation. FRAUD Why it is that cheque offenders are still having a ball in Christchurch? Cheques are still being cashed for the purchase of small articles ' and substantial sums of money given in change. This should never happen. If you are prepared to accept a cheque, don’t cash the cheque for a greater amount than the value of the article.

The old motto must still apply. Ask yourself when accepting a cheque, “If I cash this cheque can I find the person who presented it to me?” If the answer is no—don’t cash the cheque. Have the person endorse the back of the cheque, watching whilst he or she does so, and note tattoos, rings, marks, clothing and nervousness. Excuse yourself for a moment and check the telephone book against the name endorsed on the back of the cheque. Watch the kite flier who “name drops.”